My wish list for 2016 would be for all powerful billionaire types stop destroying the free market. It’s disheartening to the rest of us who still aspire to make our billions. When we see Sheldon Adelson with politicians shamelessly doing his bidding as he seeks to destroy his competition through governmental regulations, it is difficult to believe the American Dream still lives. Sheldon takes it further by recently buying the largest newspaper in Nevada to essentially silence their criticism of his “Godfather-like” behavior. It plays right into the narrative that the jig is up…the game is rigged.

Greed and lust for power seem to effortlessly cross party lines. While Adelson fancies himself a Republican, we can shift our sights to Democrat billionaire Tom Steyer. His relentless pursuit of all things environmental has left California losing businesses and people. What is arguably the most beautiful and resource rich state in the world has been reduced to doldrums by the liberal policies forced down Californians throats. Now Steyer wants to attack free enterprise by getting his friends in government to punish evil oil producers for making too much money. Sadly, his idea of punishment is also going to punish everyone who drives a car by raising the price of gas right at the pump. Really…he’s a billionaire. Who makes too much money? Pot meet kettle. Why can’t billionaires just leave well enough alone? Go to France for a month or buy an island or something. Leave the system alone. Economic principles will balance themselves out without being rigged by some well-meaning or corrupt Lord at the top.

That brings me to Exhibit C. Bill Ackman. Ackman is a hedge fund (Pershing Square Capital) billionaire with a hatred for multi-level marketing. Well, maybe he doesn’t hate all MLM’s, just Herbalife. Last year, Ackman took a $1 Billion short position in Herbalife sending the stock into freefall in an attempt to destroy the company and reap massive profits on its demise. He has so far been thwarted as the CEO of Herbalife (Michael Johnson) didn’t take it lying down. Ackman like the other billionaires, doesn’t like losing. He hired an army of lobbyists and launched his attack using government to push his vendetta on a successful American business. Call it coincidence, but both the FTC and SEC have initiated investigations into Herbalife, which has spent more than $90 million defending itself. Make it all stop!

So what gives? Why all the rich, powerful, titans of industry attacking the very system that has made them who they are? I will admit that I don’t know any billionaires. However, the lowly millionaires that I know are generally fantastic people. They’ve worked hard. They own a business or several businesses. They provide jobs for people who they like and want to take care of. They do tons of charity work and actually give away a lot of money. Some have fancy cars and big houses and travel the world, but most are incredibly wise, humble, driven, people.

Is it the letter “B” that causes the problem? Once you become a “Billionaire” do you somehow become Dr. Evil, out to get everyone who may stand in your way? Or worse yet, must you become a crusader using your horde of gold to further a cause you’ve found dear to your heart? These overlords are so far removed from reality they may not even see that what they do is rather sickening to the rest of us. But what do we know, we’re just peasants!

Thanks to the antics of these men and others I will have plenty of corruption and collusions stories to write about in 2016. My new year’s wish would be to write about a billionaire who didn’t try to buy a politician or crush his rival is some nefarious way, but I won’t hold my breath.

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S.C. Sherman

Senior Editor

Steve Sherman is an author, popular radio commentator, and former Iowa House candidate. His articles have appeared nationally in both print and online for Townhall, Human Events, Clash Daily, Washington Times, Washington Examiner, Red Alert Politics, Forbes, NRATV and others. All of his novels including his most recent tome, Lone Wolf Canyon, a modern day western that infuriates the left and all "Snowflakes," are available here.

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